One thing that did catch my eye this day, was the image below, in which there was this girl who had waded far out into the shallows off the shore line.  For some reason, the Title that comes to mind is:

“Walking before the waves”.

I will post a sideshow of the beach photo’s I took in a couple more days.  I know that it’s coming up upon the Christmas season, but every now and then, we just need to focus on something perhaps a little less commercialized, which does not make your think about ” I need to go buy something “.

Today, looking back, I believe we did see acts of heroism and selfless disregard for ones own safety, in efforts to save the lives of others.  Though most of the stories I believe are true, I do feel there have been some creative liberties taken with some of the stories, to build them up in an effort to make them more news worthy.   But regardless, some of the best in people came out on that day, and makes it memorable in it’s own right, for those efforts.

What concerns me though is how the politicians use events like these to help shape public opinion.  Leaders including religious leaders around the world, have the ability to shape people’s desires and actions through speeches and talks that work on the emotional state of mind of the listener.  These can be the catalyst for both great and horrible acts.  All one needs to do is look back through history and see that some of the greatest impacts to cultures have been the ability of a single person, to drive a complete society into action.

Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, Aristotle, Euclid, Moses are a few of the best known names of individuals who through a single persons words and actions hit the emotional core of those around them while alive and millions upon millions of lives after they were gone.  Each of these individuals spoke of great ideals to improve how people should live together.  Each of these individuals are known for attempting to help people live better lives in cooperation with all others.  It is said when their words are twisted into emotional weapons used to inflect pain and suffering on others and used to justify those very actions.

For those who think this is not the case, you only need to look into names such as Gingas Kon, Adolf Hitler, Ivan Vasilyevich,  Mao Tse-tung, Genghis Khan, to name a few.  Here too are individuals who through their words and actions caused millions of lives to be horribly extinguished.  They did not accomplish this with their own hands, but through their ability to control the emotional thoughts of others to inspire them to take suggested actions in what they had been convinced were justified and for the better good of ’their’ society.  For those who think religious leaders have not done the same look into history of the Roman Catholic Inquisition as one example.  A more recent religious event being that of 9/11, inspired by those who justified the actions as being justified under Muslim teachings, those no one has been able to point out where those teaching are?

So, we all must use the intellect each of us have been given to weed through the words of those who would lead, to ensure the outcomes never end up generating what will be seen in history as evil.

The right to defend does not automatically equate, to the right to attack.  The good of the many does not justify the deaths of others because they live in a given society.  But, we do always retain the right to prevent others from inflicting harm.  It in determining what is the definition of harm that we sometimes get into trouble.

So what is the reason for the extreme heat. Is is global warming? I check the records, and we are not currently setting new ones. Temperatures have been more extreme in times past. So, is this related to global warming, or is it related to higher output from the sun? Or, is it a bit of both. There seems to be some contention and controversy over what is the cause of warmer temperatures. There are indicators such as higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that can not really be contested, as it is scientific fact. According to geological records, this is not the first time in history that CO2 has been as high as it is today. In fact, it has been even higher if the science is correct.

I recall times back in the 60′s (I know), when the winters in Wisconsin and Minnesota were much colder than we average today. I also remember days when the temperatures climbed up into the upper 90′s and even hit the 100 mark, which is not much different from todays trends. So do I think that global warming is fact or fiction? I must say yes, it is. Or then again, what are all the possible causes? I am not exactly sure, but I do think that continuing to pump millions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere is not a good idea regardless. Are all the efforts being made to reduce CO2 worth while? I would have to say “Yes”. Just as pouring tons of chemicals into the water-ways has been proven to not be a good idea. The really hard part is going to be figuring out how to reduce, while helping everyone to keep an acceptable standard of living.

The really ironic thing is that at time when winters are supposed to be warmer, we just had a winter with some of the greatest snow falls seen in decades in the north. Then we had a spring that was cooler than normal with more rain than normal. In fact we had a lot more rain than normal. So what do you get when you mix extra deep snow with lots of rain. You get a year where you have some the greatest flooding seen in over sixty years! If it was not for the all the heat we have been having, I would just say “rain rain go away, come again another day”. But, given the current circumstances, I would settle for some cooler air.

This is what One Million Gallons of water flowing by you, each and every second looks like.  This is the Gavins Point Dam, which is the last stop of the Mighty Missouri River, on it’s way to Omaha and Council Bluffs.  From the borders of South Dakota and Nebraksa, down to the flooded shared valley between Nebraska and Iowa, the water just keeps coming.  We hear about a town being flooded for days.  This summer the Missouri River is flooding NE/IA for MONTHS.

   I recall growing up hearing all the “Old” people at family get together commenting on how fast the years had gone by on them.  Suddenly, or at least it seems so, I am now thinking the same thing to myself.  What is interesting is that inside, I still think I am still the same me.  Oh sure, there have been a few external changes, but inside it’s still me. 

   Even at work, I act and behave the way it is expected a person doing what I do for a living to do.  I am serious when talking about “serious” business”, and willing to crack a smile at the appropriate times.  But, still inside my head, what my mind thinks does not always match what I know I must do.  After all, business is business, and we always have to be on guard to make sure others do not take advantage of our business position.

   But I must say, that even in everyday life we have to make sure others do not take advantage of us.  There is always someone out there looking to scam a few extra (or a lot) dollars out of our pockets all in the name of good business.  Why else would we all look the items that are sale first, over just walking in, picking out what we want and buying it.  Of course there are those with the resources that can do exactly that.  But then, if you could have anything you want, would you grow tired of not finding those items that mean something more to you than another item.

    But back to how I view the world not just around me, but the world inside me as well.  After all, the world is what we perceive the world to be.  And what that world is, is what our mind makes it out to be.   So with just a little imagination, I am able to visit where no other person has yet to see.   Sometimes it’s a book that takes me there.  Other times it is a good movie.  Once and awhile, it’s the dream that lingers on in the morning.  And then, it can be as simple are reliving a moment of the past, where everyone, including myself, looks just like I remember.

   In doing some research, I have learned about gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.  Seems like the type of bacteria I feel victim to was the gram-negative variety of bacteria.  The interesting thing about colds is sometimes the thing that really makes you sick is not the cold, but the side effect flare-up of other things that can grow while your immune system is busy fighting off the cold virus.   So as it turns out, a bacterium’s best friend turns out to be a virus!

   Well today, I can once again breathe without having to take what feels like forced breaths.  Unlike a couple of days ago, I can also take a deep breath without feeling a slight deep-seated pain on the right-sided of my chest.  And last night was about the first night in three weeks that I did not have to keep blowing my nose throughout the night.  It was also the first night I was able to sleep in increments greater than a couple of hours, unlike the last couple weeks. 

   I find it truly hard to imagine what things were like back before there were the medicines we have available to us to-day.   When it comes to illnesses, I must say, “I do not long for the good ol’ days”!

   As I think back, this one started out as a very minor sore throat about five weeks ago, which lasted about four or five days and went away.  Then about a ten days ago, I had the classic sinus cold kick in, with all the head pressure, unable to breath through the nose, and general, not feeling the best.  After a couple of days and very long nights of this, things shifted down to the throat and it felt somewhat like a replay of the sore throat a few weeks prior.  Then things moved further south into the lungs.

   So now, I have that heavy congested chest feeling.  You, know, the one where every once in a while you feel like taking an extra deep breath to catch up.  Glans along the back of the jaw are swollen.  Sinus’s still plug up every late afternoon and night.  Throat is just a tiny bit sore, or perhaps just more ticklish throughout the day.

   Speaking of nights, when this first kicked in, every night, it seemed like my nose just wanted to run throughout the night.  Keep lots and lots of tissue handy, is all I can say on that one.  So right now, aside from feeling like I am coughing up a lung every now and then, I have not had any fever to speak of, what so ever? 

   So I am sure this is not a flu bug, but rather a common cold that as is so typical for me, transitioned into a minor respiratory infection that hopefully will work itself out.  I suppose I could run to the doctor get a bunch of antibiotics, but I really would like my body to build up some old fashion self immunity to some of the bugs the grandkids keep exposing me to.  After all, what doesn’t kill us, sure makes life miserable. 

That is the saying isn’t it?